Business · Markets · 3 hrs ago
Billboard to Give Paid Streams More Weight in Charts From January
Billboard will give paid streams more weight in its album and song consumption charts starting in January.
The change follows an annual review of streaming revenue data by Billboard and Luminate.
The ratio will shift from 1:2.5 to 1:1.5 for paid versus ad-supported streams.
For the Billboard 200, each album consumption unit will count 1,000 paid streams or 1,500 ad-supported streams, down from 2,500 ad-supported streams.
The updated rule takes effect for charts dated Jan.
16, using listening data from Jan.
1 to 7.
Billboard has combined streaming with sales and track purchases in album rankings since 2014, while its Hot 100 has included streaming since 2007.
Sales and download measures will stay the same, and Billboard says the update is intended to keep its charts aligned with the economics of music listening.
Billboard will give paid subscription streams more weight in its album and song consumption charts starting in January.
The ratio between paid and ad-supported streams will narrow from 1:2.5 to 1:1.5.
The change follows an annual review of streaming revenue data by Billboard and Luminate.
For the Billboard 200, the new album consumption unit will equal 1,500 ad-supported streams or 1,000 paid streams.
Sales and download metrics will remain unchanged.
- Who
- Billboard, following a review with Luminate.
- What
- Billboard is changing how paid and ad-supported streams count toward its charts.
- When
- Beginning in January. The Billboard 200 change applies to the chart dated Jan. 16, reflecting data from Jan. 1-7.
- Where
- Billboard’s album and song consumption charts, including the Billboard 200 and Hot 100.
- Why
- The change follows an analysis of streaming revenue and is intended to keep the charts aligned with the economics of music consumption.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Hot 100 first included streaming data in its methodology.
Billboard first incorporated streaming into its album charts with the Billboard 200.
The data period for the Billboard 200 chart dated Jan. 16.
Billboard’s updated stream weighting takes effect.
- Paid-to-ad-supported stream ratio
- Changes from 1:2.5 to 1:1.5
- New album consumption unit
- 1,500 ad-supported streams or 1,000 paid streams
- Billboard 200 effective chart date
- Jan. 16
- Data period for that chart
- Jan. 1-7
- Sales and download metrics
- Remain the same